Traffic Commission Meeting

URBANA TRAFFIC COMMISSION Tuesday, May 7, 2013 MEMBERS PRESENT: Dennis Roberts, City Council Member, Ward 5, Chair Joe Smith, Senior Civil Engineer Pat Connolly, Police Chief MEMBERS ABSENT: None OTHERS PRESENT: John Collins, Operations Manager Carletta Donaldson, 406 Brookens Drive The meeting began at 4:10 p.m. Additions to the agenda: There were no additions to the agenda. Approval of Minutes: Pat Connolly moved to approve the minutes as read. Joe Smith seconded the motion. The Commission voted 3-0 to approve the minutes of the April 2, 2013 meeting. Public Input Those in attendance did not wish to speak to any particular issue. Unfinished Business None New Business Item #1- Discussion of one-way northbound traffic flow on Walnut Street between Main Street and Water Street. Joe Smith reviewed the plan for one-way traffic on Walnut Street between Main Street and Water Street. He said that the proposed traffic flow would be northbound with parallel parking on the west side and diagonal head-in parking on the east side of Walnut Street.. He added that one parking space on the west side of the street to the south of the parking deck would be removed to improve visibility for motorists pulling onto Walnut Street from the parking deck at a later date. Dennis Roberts asked if the construction on Main Street would occur at the same time as the one-way designation occurred.  Traffic Commission Minutes May 2013 Page 2 Joe Smith stated that both the improvements on Main Street and the one-way designation on Walnut Street were part of the project in downtown Urbana. Joe Smith moved to restrict traffic flow to the north on Walnut Street between Main Street and Water Street. Pat Connolly asked if signage would be posted in the middle of the block for those exiting the parking facility to indicate that traffic was to flow to the north. Joe Smith said that the signage would be posted to let traffic from the parking deck know that they could not turn right. Dennis Roberts seconded the motion. The motion passed 3-0. This item will go to Council for consideration. Item #2- Discussion of a speed study on Kinch Street between Washington Street and Florida Avenue. Joe Smith discussed the results of a speed study conducted on Kinch Street between Washington Street and Florida Avenue. He said that the study was conducted on April 17th between 7:30 a.m. and 8:30 a.m. and on April 30th between 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. He summarized the results of the two reporting periods by mentioning that the traffic volume was higher in the morning peak traffic period compared to the time period around the dismissal of the two elementary schools located nearby (Prairie Elementary School and Thomas Paine Elementary School). For the morning period on April 17th, Mr. Smith reported that there were 175 vehicles recorded with a top speed of 47 miles per hour; an average speed of 29.07 miles per hour; the 85th percentile was 32.82 miles per hour; and the violation rate of 34.9%. For the afternoon period on April 30th, Mr. Smith reported that 145 vehicles were recorded with a top speed of 38 miles per hour; the average speed was 28 miles per hours; the 85th percentile was 31.9 miles per hour; and the violation rate was 27.63%. He noted that there was one bicyclist recorded in the morning and none reported in the afternoon and that most pedestrians were returning from Florida Avenue. He added that those recording vehicles were parked on Kinch Street atMichigan Avenue to monitor speeds. Dennis Roberts said that most were exceeding 30 miles per hour. Joe Smith said that most were driving around 31 miles per hour and that the variations were within speedometer variations and not excessive. He suggested that the speed trailer be set along Kinch Street but he did not think that a STEP (Strategic Traffic Enforcement Program) detail would be effective at that location.  Traffic Commission Minutes May 2013 Page 3 Pat Connolly said that he thought that the speed trailer would be effective. He said that the violations would be minimal. Chief Connolly said that he would ask an officer to place the speed trailer on Kinch Street as a reminder to those travelling on that street. Mr. Smith recommended placing it at Kinch Street and Michigan Avenue for northbound traffic. He added that stop signs on Kinch Street at that intersection were not warranted. He added that another study would be conducted in October to determine the impact of the installation of bicycle lanes on Kinch Street. John Collins recommended placing it between Michigan Avenue and Country Squire Drive. Joe Smith agreed. Pat Connolly said that he would ask that the trailer be placed in alternate directions between northbound and southbound directions to warn all motorists. Joe Smith said that he would use traffic counters to monitor speeds. He said that if the speeds are high, he might recommend the installation of speed limit signage. He felt that the speeds recorded on this street were not excessive overall. No action was recommended until the results of the October speed study have been reviewed. Discussion followed about upcoming Traffic Commission issues. The meeting adjourned at 4:22 p.m. The next meeting will be held on June 4, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at the Urbana City Building, 400 South Vine Street, second floor conference room. Respectfully submitted, Barbara Stiehl Recording Secretary